Is there an endogenous relationship between culture and economic development?

Evidence from two communities suggests diverging paths of economic development; one which integrates culture into economic activities, and a second path which does not. If endogeneity cannot be assumed, does the relevance of culture for economic activities influence its stability and sustainability? Despite the predominance of culture in the former community, the social norms, ethnic cues and symbols are neither more likely to thrive or survive. Against expectations, the latter group appears more successful in preserving culture through a strategy of separating social identity from economic activities.